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01-02-2013 at 10:11 AM
AngelaP198...
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Money

Anyone else pregnant with not much in savings? How will you deal?

 
01-02-2013 at 10:15 AM
lacilove24...
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I'm not in this problem, but I have some suggestions.

Shop used. Consignment sales/stores, Craigslist. Etc.. The only things I wouldn't buy used is a car seat, and a crib.  I have even seen diapers cheaper on CL.

Start buying little things now. Like buy a pack of diapers and a pack of wipes with each paycheck, so you aren't feeling the pain all at once. 

 


*Married-10/13/12*Angel Baby #1- 11/5/11*Angel Baby #2-05/21/12*Surprise! Baby #3- Little love is due on 8/7/13! Please be our 3rd time is the charm!!*  BabyFruit Ticker

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01-02-2013 at 10:18 AM
LoisLayn23
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Start saving.

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01-02-2013 at 10:30 AM
elmoali
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lacilove248:

I'm not in this problem, but I have some suggestions.

Shop used. Consignment sales/stores, Craigslist. Etc.. The only things I wouldn't buy used is a car seat, and a crib.  I have even seen diapers cheaper on CL.

Start buying little things now. Like buy a pack of diapers and a pack of wipes with each paycheck, so you aren't feeling the pain all at once. 

 

I agree with buying used except for the carseat and crib.  I don't agree with buying the diapers.  Start setting money aside each week rather than buying that stuff now.  Your kid might blow out of Pampers, have an allergic reaction to Huggies...who knows.  Believe me, the last thing you want to be doing in those first few weeks is hauling baby and a ton of diapers to stores for exchanges.  Setting the money aside (or loading it on a gift card) will still help take the sting out of the cost later.  Look at where you can tighten your budget.  Think hard about your cable, cell phone plans, etc.  Start clipping coupons.


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01-02-2013 at 10:38 AM
JCWhitey
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This pregnancy for us was not planned and H is still finishing up school (as technically am I but I also have a business) so we are living off my income alone.  Because of a bad accident I had in 2009 all of my savings are gone and I actually have debt now so we aren't in the place we wanted to be financially when we planned to start a family.  But, we'll deal!  Here are some suggestions:

1) Start saving what you can.  We can't because we still have debt, but we did sell off some of our frivolous things in order to pay down our debt faster.   I also downgraded my car to get lower payments on that.  We also became a one-car family and I started carpooling with my car which brings in a lot of extra savings.

2) Look into programs like WIC for some food savings.  If you are in school your college may also have programs available for you as well.  Mine has a clinic where you can get free ultrasounds and parenting classes.

3) Buy everything used.  With the exception of car seats and cribs there aren't many baby related things that you can't buy used.  And even cribs and car seats can be used if you know who you are buying from and the history of the item.

4) Look into cloth diapering.  It can save you thousands over your child's pre-potty training years.  Also breast feeding rather than formula feeding.  

5) If you or your SO smoke, quit.  If you drink, quit.  If you eat out, quit.  If you pay for cable, look into Netflix or Hulu Plus instead if you feel you need that entertainment.  If your cell phone contract is up look into getting a cheaper plan.  Make the sacrifices you need to be able to start saving as good as possible.  For the most part, everything we gave up I do not miss.  I do occasionally miss eating out and going to movies, but that's a small price to pay for financial stability. 

6) Coupons are your friend!  My H is a crazy couponer and is one of those people who can figure out how to get a ton of stuff for cheap or even free.  Toothbrushes and toothpaste are the easiest things.  As well as shampoo, conditioner, and body wash.  I don't think we've paid for any of that stuff in about a year!  It's nice to be able to take care of some basic necessities and then use what money we do have on important things like insurance and bills.


Janine & Cody | Georgetown, Grand Cayman | Feb. 28th, 2012

Surprise BFP | Baby Due Late July/Early August 2013

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I believe in a lot of things. I believe in fresh tennis balls, the healing power of bunnies, and that the novels of Susan Sontag are something I'll never read. In fact, I don't even know who Susan Sontag is. What is she... like... a painter? I believe in Crystal Lite because I believe in ME. I believe in the movies of Val Kilmer, though these days it ain't so easy. I believe in Darren Sproles, the word "dabble", the first season of "Silk Stockings", and big, warm, moist, gooey chocolate chip cookies that melt in your mouth and all over your face. 

01-02-2013 at 10:43 AM
smscartozz...
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Also for formula, if you don't or can't breastfeed, sign up on the companies sites. They will send you coupons and checks for formula.

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TTC #2 since 02/12
Borderline MFI
Clomid + TI= BFP
BFP 12/27/12 ~ EDD 09/09/2013 ~ MC CONFIRMED 1/24/13
Anxiously waiting to TTC again, but TTA for now until RE says okay!
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01-02-2013 at 10:46 AM
AngelaP198...
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Thanks, ladies. I appreciate all your feedback.
 
01-02-2013 at 10:47 AM
bekah90
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:Lurker here:

We started out with no savings at all. We had a couple hundred bucks, and I guess the way we have gotten through it is: buy used, except for car seat and crib. Only buy the absolute nessecities. (No bouncy seats, rockers...) My parents got us a Pack-n-Play for a shower gift, and that will be the only crib he has until he outgrows it.

GL, I know what its like to really struggle to make ends meet.


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01-02-2013 at 10:51 AM
elmoali
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smscartozzi:
Also for formula, if you don't or can't breastfeed, sign up on the companies sites. They will send you coupons and checks for formula.

Actually, if any of you end up formula feeding, start off with a store brand.  It's MUCH less expensive and every bit at good for your baby as a brand name formula. 


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01-02-2013 at 10:53 AM
JCWhitey
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bekah90:

:Lurker here:

We started out with no savings at all. We had a couple hundred bucks, and I guess the way we have gotten through it is: buy used, except for car seat and crib. Only buy the absolute nessecities. (No bouncy seats, rockers...) My parents got us a Pack-n-Play for a shower gift, and that will be the only crib he has until he outgrows it.

GL, I know what its like to really struggle to make ends meet.

We are also using a Pack-n-Play instead of a crib.   Both for cost and space reasons as we're converting our closet into the nursery and while it's big enough for a crib there's no good place to position on.  Also no changing table or baby dresser or anything like that.  We're just going to use what we already have around the house.  No nursery decor or anything, either.  I highly doubt my baby will notice or care if they don't have the cutest nursery in the world!


Janine & Cody | Georgetown, Grand Cayman | Feb. 28th, 2012

Surprise BFP | Baby Due Late July/Early August 2013

 Pregnancy Ticker

I believe in a lot of things. I believe in fresh tennis balls, the healing power of bunnies, and that the novels of Susan Sontag are something I'll never read. In fact, I don't even know who Susan Sontag is. What is she... like... a painter? I believe in Crystal Lite because I believe in ME. I believe in the movies of Val Kilmer, though these days it ain't so easy. I believe in Darren Sproles, the word "dabble", the first season of "Silk Stockings", and big, warm, moist, gooey chocolate chip cookies that melt in your mouth and all over your face. 

01-02-2013 at 11:02 AM
MR.&Mrs
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JCWhitey:
No nursery decor or anything, either. nbsp;I highly doubt my baby will notice or care if they don't have the cutest nursery in the world!


Thank you for this. Now I don't feel so bad for not decorating the guest room. I plan on not decorating until our baby is about 3 or 4. I don't believe the baby will notice until then.
Sorry if this looks funny mobile bumping.

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01-02-2013 at 11:08 AM
JCWhitey
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MR.&Mrs:
JCWhitey:
No nursery decor or anything, either. nbsp;I highly doubt my baby will notice or care if they don't have the cutest nursery in the world!
Thank you for this. Now I don't feel so bad for not decorating the guest room. I plan on not decorating until our baby is about 3 or 4. I don't believe the baby will notice until then. Sorry if this looks funny mobile bumping.

That's a great idea, especially since then you can get a little input from your child or go off his/her personality.  My brother and SIL had a pretty cute nursery when my nephew was born, but they ended up re-doing it a few months ago because their son had different interests and personalities than what was reflected in the room and they wanted to match that for him (they used to have an animal theme, now it's sports theme).  They are well off so they can afford to do that, I can't!  Plus we don't plan to live in the house we are in for longer than a year and I don't want to spend any money on it when we plan to leave! 


Janine & Cody | Georgetown, Grand Cayman | Feb. 28th, 2012

Surprise BFP | Baby Due Late July/Early August 2013

 Pregnancy Ticker

I believe in a lot of things. I believe in fresh tennis balls, the healing power of bunnies, and that the novels of Susan Sontag are something I'll never read. In fact, I don't even know who Susan Sontag is. What is she... like... a painter? I believe in Crystal Lite because I believe in ME. I believe in the movies of Val Kilmer, though these days it ain't so easy. I believe in Darren Sproles, the word "dabble", the first season of "Silk Stockings", and big, warm, moist, gooey chocolate chip cookies that melt in your mouth and all over your face. 

01-02-2013 at 12:16 PM
smilormari...
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Lurker here but I had suggestions that actually saved me money last year:
I called my car insurance company acting as if I was goong to cancel the policy and go somewhere else and they immediately ran a new policy quote for me without making me apply for a new policy. I was paying 100 and they made my new bill only 60 a month. Later when I added my husband, it was like 90 something so it actually felt like he was added for free in a sense. Also, look into the defensive driving course to get your auto insurance rate lower. You can check with the DMV or other groups who offer this program for little cost and then turn in your certificate to get another percentage off your insurance. Plus you'll be a safer driver for baby. The End. Good luck!


Our little lightbulb is on the way!

TTC since Oct 2011
Me: 33, hypothyroidism since 14, cleared all HSG, US, Pre-pregnancy panel tests.
Hubby: 36, testicular Ca, chemo April-May 2012.
Natural cycle IUI #1 with trigger and Progesterone Suppositories (Jun 2012) Neg
Natural Cycle IUI #2 with trigger and Progesterone Suppositories (Jul 2012) NEG
Aug 2012 - break due to needing a girls' weekend in Cape Cod
Natural Cycle IUI #3 with trigger and prednisone (Sep 2012) NEGATIVE
Switched fertility clinics - forced break Oct 2012
Natural Cycle IUI #4 (Nov 2012) no trigger, no progesterone, no prednisone (Nov 2012) - Neg
1st round Clomid Cycle IUI #5 (Dec 2012) - POS
 
01-02-2013 at 12:22 PM
MayDayGirl
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We were so broke when we got pg with ds, dh was in residency and we spent 45,000 trying to have a baby, so all of our savings. We spent his first 2 years having almost no money at all, and lived paycheck to paycheck.

We bought used and recycled everything we could, we didn't have cable/Netflix, we didn't eat out, we went to the library for movies and we cloth diapered. We camped for vacation and invited friends over instead of going out.

Hth!

Married on 3.20.2004. It took 30 month, 2 failed adoptions and IVF for our first miracle. We have had 9 foster kids since he was born and started the domestic adoption process when he was 10 month old, we had 4 failed matches in that time. After our daughter was born we brought her home and spent 2 weeks fearing we might lose her because of complications that came up. But Praise God all went through and she is ours forever! Expecting again after IVF and recently adopted a teenage boy who we couldn't love more. God is good! Lilypie Kids Birthday tickers  Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker  Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
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01-02-2013 at 12:44 PM
kpahl
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I frequent the swap spot board to trade things I have for things I can use. I also check www.hip2save.com daily.

Today I am sending 18 books/DVDs to Amazon to sell to them for a gift card through their reseller program.

I find ways to save money and make money off things we no longer use. It all helps.

Scheduled c-section on 7/26/13.  Pregnancy Ticker Lilypie Third Birthday tickers 
01-02-2013 at 3:50 PM
ELauren88
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DH and I are in the same boat. I believe we had a whole $20 in our savings when we got our BFP. Since then, it's been a mad race to big bucks in the savings. I'm a bartender and he's a graphic designer/production artist. Now he officially pays all bills, and I work more shifts, and longer hours (SUCK), and every penny I make goes into savings. Anything extra from his paycheck goes into a separate savings for a car. How can we make this work? 

We don't have cable. We splurge for internet and netflix - that's the grand total of our entertainment. We no longer go out for anything. No dinner, no coffee with my girls, no movies (not that I could sit through 3 hours of anything w/o peeing myself). It's all about keeping your eyes on the prize.

It's VERY important to me to have a nest egg ready when LO arrives, and we have no choice when it comes to buying a new car. Mine has no heater or a/c (Kansas summer w/ baby?? No a/c is NOT an option) and his car won't fit a car seat!

I know the last thing any expectant mother wants to do is work more, I sure don't, but sometimes ya gotta do what ya gotta do! This will teach us to keep more in our savings all the time! 


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01-02-2013 at 4:19 PM
Lotsoflove...
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LoisLane23:
Start saving.

this. Before we started ttc we made sure that we were ready for a new baby. 


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01-03-2013 at 9:03 AM
JCWhitey
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Lotsofloveandkids:

LoisLane23:
Start saving.

this. Before we started ttc we made sure that we were ready for a new baby. 

That's very easy to say when you're TTC.  But if you're not and you get a surprise BFP it isn't so easy.  Not everyone is in the same situation as you.


Janine & Cody | Georgetown, Grand Cayman | Feb. 28th, 2012

Surprise BFP | Baby Due Late July/Early August 2013

 Pregnancy Ticker

I believe in a lot of things. I believe in fresh tennis balls, the healing power of bunnies, and that the novels of Susan Sontag are something I'll never read. In fact, I don't even know who Susan Sontag is. What is she... like... a painter? I believe in Crystal Lite because I believe in ME. I believe in the movies of Val Kilmer, though these days it ain't so easy. I believe in Darren Sproles, the word "dabble", the first season of "Silk Stockings", and big, warm, moist, gooey chocolate chip cookies that melt in your mouth and all over your face. 

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